23 duds in the past 23 years

Modern cars are filled with gizmos, but the industry has had its fair share of duds over the past 23 years. AOL ranked 50 all-time duds. Here are all of them since 1990.

By Houston Chronicle Web Staff

on December 12, 2012 1:17 PM

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2012 Honda Civic: The Honda Civic is one of the classic modern cars, but the 2012 model was heavily criticized by auto writers for being conservative. The car was dubbed a snooze.

2012 Honda Civic: The Honda Civic is one of the classic modern cars, but the 2012 model was heavily criticized by auto writers for being conservative. The car was dubbed a snooze.

Photo: Honda Motor Company

2012 Honda Civic: The Honda Civic is one of the classic modern... Photo-3888243.53797 - Houston Chronicle

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2001 Pontiac Aztek: Edmunds ranked this one of the worst cars of all-time. Critics hated the car because of its boring design and poor performance. The model was quickly canceled. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2001 Pontiac Aztek: Edmunds ranked this one of the worst cars of all-time. Critics hated the car because of its boring design and poor performance. The model was quickly canceled. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2002 Land Rover Freelander: Sales for the Land Rover were poor, and it wasn’t hard to see why consumers weren’t crazy about the SUV. The car was expensive, slow and way too heavy. (Photo: Kenjonbro, Flickr)

2002 Land Rover Freelander: Sales for the Land Rover were poor, and it wasn’t hard to see why consumers weren’t crazy about the SUV. The car was expensive, slow and way too heavy. (Photo: Kenjonbro, Flickr)

2002 Land Rover Freelander: Sales for the Land Rover were poor,... Photo-3882416.53797 - Houston Chronicle

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2002 Isuzu Axiom: Don’t remember this car? You aren’t the only person. Isuzu started the brand by letting consumers pick the name, and it only lasted two years before production was stopped. Sales weren’t good either. (Photo: Brian.couch.jr, Flickr)

2002 Isuzu Axiom: Don’t remember this car? You aren’t the only person. Isuzu started the brand by letting consumers pick the name, and it only lasted two years before production was stopped. Sales weren’t

2008 BMW X6: Critics didn’t love this car because of its exterior styling. As AOL notes, it has the appearance of the Pontiac Aztek, which also ranks among the worst modern cars. (Photo: Pable Monteagudo, Flickr)

2008 BMW X6: Critics didn’t love this car because of its exterior styling. As AOL notes, it has the appearance of the Pontiac Aztek, which also ranks among the worst modern cars. (Photo: Pable Monteagudo,

1996 Acura SLX: The sports utility vehicle was supposed to fill the luxury SUV void in Acura’s model line, and it certainly accomplished that goal. However, the SUV was declared a “rollover hazard” and “not acceptable” by Consumer Reports. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

1996 Acura SLX: The sports utility vehicle was supposed to fill the luxury SUV void in Acura’s model line, and it certainly accomplished that goal. However, the SUV was declared a “rollover hazard” and

1990 Infiniti M30: Does this car look like a luxury model? Infiniti was launched by Nissan as its luxury line, but the M30 failed to live up to that title. It lacked style and performance.(Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

1990 Infiniti M30: Does this car look like a luxury model? Infiniti was launched by Nissan as its luxury line, but the M30 failed to live up to that title. It lacked style and performance.(Photo: IFCAR,

1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV: Chevrolet introduced this Dustbuster-like car in 1990 to compete against Chrysler, which started the minivan craze in the mid-1980s. Does it look elegant to you? (Photo: Order2422, Flickr)

1990 Chevrolet Lumina APV: Chevrolet introduced this Dustbuster-like car in 1990 to compete against Chrysler, which started the minivan craze in the mid-1980s. Does it look elegant to you? (Photo: Order2422,

1993 Kia Sportage: Kia has built a name for itself over the past few years, but the 1993 Sportage is probably a model that the automaker wants to forget. The car was plagued by mechanical issues. (Photo: Rudolf Stricker, Wikipedia)

1993 Kia Sportage: Kia has built a name for itself over the past few years, but the 1993 Sportage is probably a model that the automaker wants to forget. The car was plagued by mechanical issues. (Photo: Rudolf

2001 Toyota Prius: The Toyota Prius is the go-to hybrid car on the market, but it wasn’t when it was introduced. The hybrid was slow, sluggish and looked boring. It took Toyota a few years to perfect the Prius. (Photo: Toyota Motor Company)

2001 Toyota Prius: The Toyota Prius is the go-to hybrid car on the market, but it wasn’t when it was introduced. The hybrid was slow, sluggish and looked boring. It took Toyota a few years to perfect the

1997 Plymouth Prowler: The name might not ring a bell, but the car’s design will spark your memory. Plymouth tried to make a mass-produced hot rod. Are you surprised that it failed? (Photo: Aldenjewell, Flickr)

1997 Plymouth Prowler: The name might not ring a bell, but the car’s design will spark your memory. Plymouth tried to make a mass-produced hot rod. Are you surprised that it failed? (Photo: Aldenjewell,

1997 Plymouth Prowler: The name might not ring a bell, but the... Photo-3882387.53797 - Houston Chronicle

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2010 Lexus HS 250h: Toyota took its success with the Prius and tried to meld it with its Lexus brand. Critics called it a failure because it had touchy brakes, poor steering and didn’t scream luxury. (Photo: Toyota Motor Company)

2010 Lexus HS 250h: Toyota took its success with the Prius and tried to meld it with its Lexus brand. Critics called it a failure because it had touchy brakes, poor steering and didn’t scream luxury. (Photo:

2002 Lincoln Blackwood: Lincoln built its name on being a luxury car builder, but it hasn’t quite mastered the truck business. This pick-up truck wasn’t well received in the U.S. (Photo:IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2002 Lincoln Blackwood: Lincoln built its name on being a luxury car builder, but it hasn’t quite mastered the truck business. This pick-up truck wasn’t well received in the U.S. (Photo:IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2002 Lincoln Blackwood: Lincoln built its name on being a luxury... Photo-3882399.53797 - Houston Chronicle

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1990 Lotus Elan: The Elan had its golden years during the 1960s and 1970s, but the 1990s weren’t kind to the model. Critics slammed Lotus for making a front-wheel drive sports car. (Photo: Dave_z28ca, Wikipedia)

1990 Lotus Elan: The Elan had its golden years during the 1960s... Photo-3882393.53797 - Houston Chronicle

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2011 Mini Countryman: Mini hasn’t had too many zeros, but the Countryman appears to be one. The car lacked power, was noisy and had poor cargo space. Those factors all combined to make it a dud. (Photo: NRMA New Cars, Flickr)

2011 Mini Countryman: Mini hasn’t had too many zeros, but the Countryman appears to be one. The car lacked power, was noisy and had poor cargo space. Those factors all combined to make it a dud. (Photo: NRMA

1991 Mazda Navajo: The Navajo was a re-branded Ford Explorer, and because of that, it got caught in the Firestone recall that all but crippled the Explorer during the early 1990s. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

1991 Mazda Navajo: The Navajo was a re-branded Ford Explorer, and because of that, it got caught in the Firestone recall that all but crippled the Explorer during the early 1990s. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse: The Eclipse was a critics’ favorite in the early 1990s, but the automaker dropped options for a turbocharger and all-wheel drive. Without those features, the car wasn’t anything special. (Photo: IFCAR, Wikipedia)

2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse: The Eclipse was a critics’ favorite in the early 1990s, but the automaker dropped options for a turbocharger and all-wheel drive. Without those features, the car wasn’t anything